OVERVIEW: The Prudential Foundation awards immediate disaster response and relief grants, as well as those geared toward the ongoing support of international aid organizations.

IP TAKE: Overall this funder is fairly approachable; however, it tends to give modest sized grants rather than large ones.

PROFILE: The philanthropic arm of the financial services company, the Prudential Foundation, awards grants for basic human needs. This grantmaking occurs at any time, including when disaster strikes.

While the foundation awards grants for immediate disaster response, its tax filings reveal that the Prudential Foundation tends to fund ongoing support for disaster relief and response organizations. As a result, the foundation's giving often goes to a variety of larger organizations.

Prudential awards several grants in the $100,000 to $300,000 range, but they typically support domestic giving priorities. Many other grants range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Therefore, it appears that this funder prefers to support several organizations, rather than a select few.

The Prudential Foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications via its website and reviews submissions throughout the year. Applicants should expect a response from the foundation within about two months. It should be noted that grants over $200,000 must be reviewed by its board of trustees, which meets three times a year. Also, there are times during which it does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. Grant seekers should check the foundation’s website to remain current.